Drapery support

ABSTRACT

In a drapery support assembly which has a generally horizontal traverse track supported by brackets along a wall or the like, with the track spaced from the wall, and the track being adapted to have a drapery panel attached thereto, a generally L-shaped return hook plate for receiving one end of the drapery panel around one end of the track adjacent the wall. The L-shaped return hook plate has a horizontal portion clamped between a bracket adjacent one end of the track and the wall and held therebetween by pressure between the bracket and wall, and an arm portion extending outwardly from the wall for attaching the end of the drapery panel thereto. By loosening the bracket, the return hook plate is adjustable lengthwise of the track, transverse to the bracket, to compensate for different lengths of track extending beyond the bracket.

United States Patent Baker, Sr.

[54] DRAPERY SUPPORT [72] Inventor: George H. Baker, Sr., Dunlap, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Baker Drapery Corporation [22] Filed: Dec. 14, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 97,592

[52] US. Cl ..248/260, 16/94 D [51] Int. Cl. ..A47h 1/142 [58] Field of Search .248/251, 252, 254, 255, 257, 248/259, 261, 262, 263, 265, 271, 260, 272;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 608,070 7/ 1898 Oliver ..248/262 X 1,541,774 6/ l 925 Kuziel ..248/256 3,191,239 6/1965 Moore et al. ..248/225 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 9,451 0/1904 Great Britain ..248/259 137,279 12/ l 933 Austria ..248/265 1 Oct. 10,1972

Primary Examiner-J. Franklin Foss Attorney-Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & Mc- Cord [57] ABSTRACT In a drapery support assembly which has a generally horizontal traverse track supported by brackets along a wall or the like, with the track spaced from the wall, and the track being adapted to have a drapery panel attached thereto, a generally L-shaped return hook plate for receiving one end of the drapery panel around one end of the track adjacent the wall. The L- shaped return hook plate has a horizontal portion clamped between a bracket adjacent one end of the track and the wall and held therebetween by pressure between the bracket and wall, and an arm portion extending outwardly from the wall for attaching the end of the drapery panel thereto. By loosening the bracket, the return hook plate is adjustable lengthwise of the track, transverse to the bracket, to compensate for different lengths of track extending beyond the bracket.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEBnm 10 m2 INVENTOR GEORGE H. BAKER,SR.

ATTORNEYS DRAPERY SUPPORT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In a support apparatus for drapery panels and the like, wherein a drapery panel hangs from a generally horizontal traverse track spaced from a wall or the like, it is often desirable to have the drapery panel extend around the end of the track, with the top comer of the panel attached to a return hook plate so that the end of the drapery hangs adjacent the wall. The track normally is attached to the wall by means of a plurality of mounting brackets spaced along the track and many times the endmost brackets are spaced inwardly from the ends of the track. With such assemblies, the return hook plate usually is attached to the end of the track and extends rearwardly toward the wall for attaching the top comer of the drapery panel to the plate adjacent the wall. However, there are two disadvantages in attaching the return hook plate to the end of the track. First, since the distance a track may be spaced from a wall varies, return hook plates, usually telescoped, have been required so that they are adjustable in a direction perpendicular to the track. However, such telescoped devices are relatively expensive. Second, many traverse track structures now are being fabricated by extruding metal or plastic, and the track simply is cut to desired lengths. With such extruded tracks, it is difficult to attach the return hook plate to the track itself. To overcome this latter problem, it has been proposed to attach the return hook plate to the endmost mounting brackets whereby the plate extends away from the bracket along the wall toward the end of the track for attachment to the top corner of the drapery panel. However, because such plates have been fixedly secured to the brackets, it has been necessary to keep different lengths of return hook plates on hand for various lengths of track which extend beyond the endmost brackets. This invention is directed to solving these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The principal object, therefore, of the present inven tion is to provide a new and improved return hook plate means for use in drapery support assemblies and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a return hook plate which is adjustably mounted on an endmost support bracket for a traverse track to which is attached a drapery panel, for adjustment of the return hook plate lengthwise of the track along the wall to accommodate different lengths of track extending beyond the endmost bracket.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the return hook plate is generally L-shaped with a generally horizontal portion clamped between the support bracket and the wall and held therebetween by pressure between the bracket and the wall. The return hook plate is adjustable horizontally by loosening the bracket to release the clamping pressure. An arm portion extends from the horizontal portion away from the wall for receiving attaching means secured to the top corner of the drapery panel. The bracket has a generally horizontal slot facing the wall and in which the horizontal portion of the return hook plate is slidably received, the depth of the slot being slightly less than the thickness of the horizontal portion of the return hook plate so as to clamp the plate between the bracket and the wall.

In a modified form of the invention, the horizontal portion of the return hook plate is generally flat and bowed outwardly from the wall to provide resiliency and thereby maintain constant pressure on the plate when clamped between the bracket and the wall should the bracket become slightly loosened from its securement to the wall.

A further embodiment of the invention includes a dovetail slot'on the outside of the outwardly protruding arm portion of the return hook plate for receiving the male portion of a fastening means secured to the top comer of the drapery panel.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a support bracket and traverse track of a drapery support assembly, with one form of return hook plate of the-present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial vertical section taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a modified form of a return hook track;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another form of return hook track of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a partial top plan view of a drapery support assembly, with a drapery panel attached thereto, and embodying the form of return hook plate shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings in greater detail, portions of a drapery support assembly are shown including a generally horizontal traverse track, generally designated 10, extending along a wall W or the like and from which a drapery panel or the like (not shown in FIG. 1) may be hung. A support bracket, generally designated 12, is secured to the wall adjacent to, but spaced inwardly from, one end of the track 10 to support the track spaced from the wall. The support bracket 12 has a generally horizontal portion 12a extending outwardly from the wall over the track 10 and is attached to-the track by appropriate means. The bracket has a generally vertical portion 12b which is secured to the wall W by appropriate means, screws 14 being shown in the drawings.

A new and improved return hook plate, generally designated 16, is provided for receiving the end of a drapery panel at a top corner thereof, in a manner to be described in greater detail hereinafter, around the end of the track 10, adjacent the wall. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the return hook plate 16 is generally L-shaped and has a generally flat horizontal portion 16a clamped between the vertical portion 12b of the bracket 12 and the wall W and held therebetween by pressure between the bracket and the wall. A drapery attaching arm portion 16b extends from the horizontal portion 16a of the return hook plate away from the wall W for receiving attaching means secured to the top corner of the drapery panel. In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, an

aperture 160 is provided in the arm portion 16b of the return hook plate for receiving a hook or other similar means attached to the drapery panel.

Means are provided for adjustably mounting the return hook plate 16 on the support bracket 12 for adjustment along the wall lengthwise of the track 10, transverse to the bracket, to move the attaching arm portion 16b horizontally along the wall W to accommodate different lengths of track which might extend beyond the bracket at the end of the track. As stated above, the horizontal portion 160 of the return hook plate is held by pressure between the vertical portion 12b of the bracket 12 and the wall W. This is accomplished by means of the screws 14. To adjust the return hook plate 16 lengthwise of the track 10, one or both of the screws 14 are loosened and the return hook plate may be moved back and forth in the direction of arrow A (FIG. 1) so that the attaching arm portion 16b of the return hook plate is substantially in fore and aft alignment with the end of the track 10. Once in alignment, the screws 14 are tightened to clamp the return hook plate tightly between the vertical portion 12b of the bracket and the wall.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, an elongate horizontal slot 18 is formed in the backside of the vertical portion 12b of the bracket 12, facing the wall, and in which the horizontal portion 16a of the return hook plate is slidably received. The depth of the slot 18 is slightly less than the thickness of the horizontal portion 16a to permit the plate to be clamped against the wall. The slot 18 facilitates locating the return hook plate 16 and manipulating the plate so that a person need only hold the bracket 12 and manipulate a screwdriver or the like to tighten the screws 14, without at the same time. holding the return hook plate. In addition, the elongate horizontal slot 18 insures that the return hook plate 16 will be maintained generally horizontal when clamped behind the vertical portion 12b of the bracket 12 to prevent sagging of the end of the drapery panel.

FIG. 3 shows a modified form of return hook plate 16' having a generally flat horizontal portion 16a and an outwardly extending attaching arm portion 16b. with an aperture 160' formed in the arm portion. In this form of the invention, the generally horizontal flat portion 160' is bowed outwardly from the wall W to provide resiliency and thereby insure maintaining constant pressure on the return hook plate when clamped between the vertical portion 12b of the bracket 12 and the wall W should the bracket become slightly loosened from its securement to the wall.

FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the invention wherein the outwardly extending arm portion of the return hook plate has at least one dovetail slot 20a on the outside face thereof for receiving the male portion of a fastening means secured to the end of the drapery panel generally along the top edge thereof. A second dovetail slot 20b may be provided on the inside of the attaching arm portion of the return hook plate to accommodate a drapery lining or the like. Such dovetail slot connections may be seen in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,296,651, entitled Drapery Support. In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4, the dovetail slots 20a, 20b are formed in a separate member 22 which is press fit over the attaching arm portion 16b (or 16b) or the return hook plate. Alternatively, the attaching arm portions 16b, 16b may be fabricated of a size and shape so as to have the dovetail slots 200 and/or 20b formed directly therein.

FIG. 5 shows one end of a drapery support assembly embodying the form of the invention shown in FIG. 4, with a drapery panel P, having male attaching means 24, secured thereto and showing the drapery panel extending around the end of the track 10 adjacent the wall W, with the male portions of the attaching means secured to the drapery panel generally along the top edge thereof. FIG. 5 also shows a plurality of drapery folding plates 26 similar to those shown in my aforesaid patent.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim: I

l. A drapery support, comprising:

a bracket having a base portion secured to a generally vertical supporting surface and a portion extending outwardly from said base portion away from said supporting surface;

an elongated drapery traverse rod carried by the outwardly extending portion of the bracket and spaced thereby away from said supporting surface, said bracket being adjacent but spaced inwardly from the end of said rod;

means on said rod for carrying a drapery panel;

a drapery return connector plate having means thereon for supporting the return of a drapery panel carried by said rod; and

means mounting said plate on said bracket for adjustment in position in a direction parallel with the axial extent of said traverse rod to locate the drapery return supporting means'in a desired relation with the end of said rod.

2. The drapery support of claim 1 wherein said return connector plate has a portion clamped between said bracket and the supporting surface and the plate is held in said desired relation by pressure between the bracket and the supporting surface.

3. The drapery support of claim 2 wherein said bracket has an elongate slot facing the supporting surface and in which said portion of said return connector plate is slidably received, the depth of said slot being slightly less than the thickness of the portion of said return connector plate to enable clamping the plate between the bracket and the supporting surface.

4. The drapery support of claim 1 wherein said return connector plate is generally L-shaped with an arm portion extending outwardly away from the supporting surface having the return supporting means thereon, for receiving attaching means secured to the return of said drapery panel.

5. The drapery support of claim 4 wherein said arm portion has a dovetail slot on the outside thereof for receiving the male portion of a fastening means secured to said drapery panel.

6. The drapery support of claim 5 wherein said dovetail slot is formed in a separate member mounted on said arm portion.

7. The drapery support of claim 2 wherein said portion of the return connector plate is generally flat and bowed outwardly from the wall to provide resiliency and thereby maintain pressure on the return connector plate when clamped between the bracket and supporting surface should the bracket become loosened from its securement to the supporting surface. 5 

1. A drapery support, comprising: a bracket having a base portion secured to a generally vertical supporting surface and a portion extending outwardly from said base portion away from said supporting surface; an elongated drapery traverse rod carried by the outwardly extending portion of the bracket and spaced thereby away from said supporting surface, said bracket being adjacent but spaced inwardly from the end of said rod; means on said rod for carrying a drapery panel; a drapery return connector plate having means thereon for supporting the return of a drapery panel carried by said rod; and means mounting said plate on said bracket for adjustment in position in a direction parallel with the axial extent of said traverse rod to locate the drapery return supporting means in a desired relation with the end of said rod.
 2. The drapery support of claim 1 wherein said return connector plate has a portion clamped between said bracket and the supporting surface and the plate is held in said desired relation by pressure between the bracket and the supporting surface.
 3. The drapery support of claim 2 wherein said bracket has an elongate slot facing the supporting surface and in which said portion of said return connector plate is slidably received, the depth of said slot being slightly less than the thickness of the portion of said return connector plate to enable clamping the plate between the bracket and the supporting surface.
 4. The drapery support of claim 1 wherein said return connector plate is generally L-shaped with an arm portion extending outwardly away from the supporting surface having the return supporting means thereon, for receiving attaching means secured to the return of said drapery panel.
 5. The drapery support of claim 4 wherein said arm portion has a dovetail slot on the outside thereof for receiving the male portion of a fastening means secured to said drapery panel.
 6. The drapery support of claim 5 wherein said dovetail slot is formed in a separate member mounted on said arm portion.
 7. The drapery support of claim 2 wherein said portion of the return connector plate is generally flat and bowed outwardly from the wall to provide resiliency and thereby maintain pressure on the return connector plate when clamped between the bracket and supporting surface should the bracket become loosened from its securement to the supporting surface. 